Tropical Planting

Seldom offered as seed, Abutilon x hybridum is a popular group of hybrids that are frost-tender shrubs typically growing 60 to 90cm tall. The lantern-like buds open to solitary, pendulous, bell shaped flowers up to 8cm in diameter.

Acoelorrhaphe wrightii is native to Florida and parts of the Caribbean, this striking fan palm is small to moderately tall. Hardy to -6°C (20°F) it is one of just a few palms that can survive in saturated soil conditions. A good outdoor palm for a milder areas and a very tropical alternative to a hedge of shrubs.

These rare seeds are for the world famous Cananga odorata tree. 'Ylang-Ylang' which means 'flowers of flowers', and is among the most celebrated flowering trees in the world. The blossoms are distilled to obtain 'cananga oil' which is used to manufacture the world famous Chanel No. 5.

Canna indica is a superb tall strain with gorgeous foliage and bright vermilion red blooms. Growing to around 150cm tall, the wide banana-like leaves add a tropical feel to the garden. They are ideal to plant at the back of a border where they are in full sun, or to add colour to a partly shady area.

Canna 'Large Flowered Hybrids' create an undeniably tropical look, producing large flowers in hot colours in yellow, gold, fiery orange and red. With their lush tropical foliage and showy flowers they make borders and beds come alive with their bright colours all summer long until first frosts.

Cardiocrinum giganteum is a truly spectacular plant, which produces glorious vanilla scented, trumpet-like flowers on stems up two to three metres tall. Most gardeners agree growing this rare beauty is well worth the wait. I suppose you do have to be patient to be a gardener. We all know the longer we must wait for a beauty, the more we treasure it.

Over the past few years, the new breeding of Coleus has exploded them into hundreds of wild and crazy types of colours and forms. Overwhelmingly the favourite is the Kong series for its sheer presence, each leaf is easily as big as your palm, and probably twice as large as the next biggest Coleus you can buy.

Grown for its outstanding foliage colours, the Kong series of coleus boasts extremely large leaves with irregular edges, each leaf is easily as big as your palm, and probably twice as large as the next biggest Coleus you can buy. 'Kong Red' displays a broad vein of brilliant red down the centre of each leaf.

Coleus has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. The new breeding has taken a handful of series and exploded them into hundreds of wild and crazy types of colours and forms. Coleus 'Kong Rose' has huge leaves that are rose in the center, with a band of burgundy that flows out to chartreuse edges.

Coleus 'Kong Salmon-Pink' feature huge leaves that are coral in the center surrounded by a band of chocolate-brown edged in bright green. The plants grow 45 to 55cm tall in the garden, with a spread of around 38 to 45cm. Kept in the shade or partial shade, it is hard to go wrong with this plant.

Coleus 'Kong Scarlet' has huge leaves that are dark red with veins trailing out to chartreuse edges. Coleus colours become more vibrant when they get more shade. This is very unusual behaviour, and explains why Coleus is a popular choice for under-the-tree plantings and shade-of-the-building gardens.

The 'Wizard' Series is an excellent example of the new developments of coleus, it is the best seed raised strain for bedding and containers. From the brilliant apricot-bronze Sunset, to red-veined maroon Velvet Red, each is a distinctive work of art. The heart-shaped leaves show their colour early and keeps its hues right through the worst summer heat and humidity. Available in single colours or as a mix.

Cordyline Atropurpureum make a strong vertical shapes, the deep purple colouring contrasts well with silver foliage and can be an excellent foil for the lush foliage of other exotica. They look equally at home in more conventional and hardy ornamental borders.

The 'Cornish Palms' make fantastic points in containers or borders: their evergreen leaves provide interest throughout the year. The long slender leaves and a slow-growing trunk make this an architectural plant that lends itself to modern interiors.

Cordyline indivisa is a rare and beautiful high altitude species from New Zealand. This attractive and distinctive species is rarely cultivated, but is occasionally offered by specialist nurseries. It can be distinguished from all other Cordyline species by its very broad blue-grey leaves

This tall skyscraper of a plant is surely something that we could only believe could come from a boldly imaginative architect such as Norman Foster....but no, the hybrid Echium 'Pink Fountain' was bred in Devon. The result is a gorgeous 38cm (15in) wide, tapering tower of delicate pink flowers.

Echium pininana is undeniably an eye stopper, a magnificent inflorescence with dense panicles of deep blue flowers borne above branches of dusty linear leaves. The rosettes of large leaves are attractive even as a non-flowering plant and the flower spire can reach over 4m when grown in mild areas.

Originating from Guernsey, Echium pininana alba, also known as Echium 'Snow Tower' is a rare white form of the Tree Echium. A hardy biennial that grows a large rosette of silver-grey leaves in the first year, and a tall white flower spike up to 15ft high in the second year.

For anyone who wants something different for the border next year, I should like to introduce Echium russicum. A remarkable hardy species that has a unique flower colour for its genus. In July to August multiple throngs of striking upright spires, bearing crimson flowers emerge from a basal rosette of hairy leaves.

Gunnera is one of the biggest and most spectacular, architectural, herbaceous plants. With gigantic, deeply lobed, deep green leaves, they look best standing as specimen plants or beside a large pond where the reflections reveal the undersides of the leaves

Like many of the best ballet dancers, this cultivar is elegant and full of stamina. 'Border Ballet' includes some bold colours, but also the versatile softer colours which are often more suitable to modern schemes. A particularly floriferous strain that is a bit shorter and neater than other varieties.

The Kniphofia hybrids have extended both the flower colour and height range. The usual fiery reds and oranges work particularly well in a planting scheme based on 'hot' colours - use them to light up sultry August borders. The cooler yellow, cream, ivory and sometimes green flowers is more restful.

The lush growth, coupled with the large, glaucous leaves of Melianthus major has made it as fashionable as tree ferns. If you don't want to mimic the rain forest, try growing it amongst slender-leaved grasses and perennials. The plants add texture and provide a good background to bright colours in the garden.

The development of bananas is a source of both pride and amazement to those unfamiliar with banana culture. Musa acuminata is a 'dwarf variety' with broad, long, graceful leaves, and is extremely suitable for containers or gardens.